Pressure is on for playoff teams

Along with the start of the postseason today come new challenges for area high school football teams.

There's the uncertainty of facing unfamiliar opponents from regions mostly unknown. There's the increased level of competition. And there's the pressure of knowing a slip-up now means no second chance next week.

When it comes down to this make-or-break part of the year, where five one-game seasons stand between a team and a title, area coaches say an array of factors can determine success.

"Some of it is luck of the draw, some of it is luck with injuries," Russellville coach Doug Goodwin said. "Some of it is winning when you're not playing your best game, and, of course, some of it is just being good."

Coaches at least have some say in the latter. One key, they say, is scheduling opponents that prepare their teams for the rigors of the postseason.

Colbert County coach Cody Gross, whose 4-6 team has losses to playoff contenders Russellville and Muscle Shoals in Class 5A and Deshler in Class 4A, subscribes to that philosophy.

"Hopefully, it prepared us well," Gross said. "Hopefully, we just didn't get our butts kicked and didn't get anything out of it. When we make the schedule, we want to play tough teams that make us better. They have to play at such a high speed, a greater speed in (Class) 5A than 3A, and for us to play at that speed can't do anything but help us."

Deshler coach John Mothershed agreed that's a factor for success, but also said luck and avoiding injuries has a lot to do with it. While coaches worry about losing players to injuries sustained during practice, they also try to maintain intensity.

"You worry about losing your edge," Mothershed said. "As a coach it's a juggling act. You want to keep it fun, but you want to get something done. You want to hit, but don't want to get anybody hurt. We try to limit the contact in best-on-best individual and group settings to prevent injuries while getting speed of game without the hitting of the game."

Also wary of injuries, Brooks coach Jerry Hill said developing players physically in practice shouldn't be a concern at this point of the season. In the playoffs, the challenge becomes more mental.

"(Players) have gone through 13, 14 grueling weeks already," Hill said. "Now, a lot of it is mental work getting prepared for somebody you're not used to. That's so important, studying film and tendencies. It's like a new class every week."

Psychologically, maintaining a competitive attitude also is important, coaches say. But approaches differ. Some, like Gross, remind players that a loss means their group won't play together again. Others, like Goodwin, stress that a playoff game is like any region contest to avoid putting pressure on players.

"In the end, though, you've got to be really good, got to be lucky and you'll have to win a game where you didn't play your best," Goodwin said. "One of the five games, you're not going to play your best. It's almost impossible not to."

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@TimesDaily.com.